Self-adjusting neckband



Sept. 30, 1930. v LEVY 1,776,975

I SELF ADJUSTING NECKBAND Filed 001;. 11, 1928 V Inventor fie/whiz Zea w V Attorney Patented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED .STATES FLORIAN LEVY, OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA SELF-ADJUSTING Application filed October 11, 1928. Serial 1T0. 311,881.

This invention relates to an improved neck band for mens and boys shirts in particular, although'it may well be adapted for use in ladies waists, etc.

The improved neck band is adapted for use on shirts, with attached collars of the soft and semi-soft species, and it may also pe adapted for dress shirts utilizing stifl colars.

The purpose of the improvement is to eliminate discomfort and displeasure suchas ee- 3 to be primarily of a size greater than the incompany the shrinkage of collars after laundering.

As is well known, certain shirting materials are subject to considerable shrinkage espe cially during the first and second washings. Some materials, however, shrink continuously. Consequently, it is necessary in order to insure comfort and neatness in'fit of the I collar, that the purchaser take this into consideration, and buy a shirt which is a bit too large so that it will fit properly after shrinkage takes place. Y

The shirt in which the improvement is incorporated is subject to such shrinkage, but the object is to make the same compensate for the shrinkage by automatic adjustment.

The gist of the invention is founded in a conception embodying the provision. of a shirt wherein the neckband is so formed as tended market size. In other words, the neckband is of non-elastic material of a length eater than the intended length of the neckand and has associated therewith a strip of elastic material so stitched to the non-elastic material forming the neckband of the shirt as to draw or gather the material of the neckband longitudinally for normally holding the Stri s of non-elastic material gathered so as to orm a neckband of a size ordinarily intended for the size of the shirtto which the band is attached.

Thus, I have evolved and produced an automatically adjustable neckband having means associated therewith to compensate for subsequent shrinkage in the ban afterthe shirt has been laundered.

The particular structure for accomplishing this result'will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawmgs,

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a collar attached shirt, embodying an automatically adjustable neck band constructed in accordance with the present in vention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken approximately upon the plane of'the line 22 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2, showingthe neck band stretched and under tension.

In the drawings, 5 designates the body of the shirt, 6 thecollar, and 7 the improved self-adjusting neck band.

The neck band, as shown in Fig. 3, embodies an inner ply 8 and an outer ply 9 and an intervening strip of elastic material 10. This strip of elastic material is disposed be tween the seams 11 and 12.

As shown in Fig. 4, the two plies 8 and 9 are-stitched at longitudinally spaced points as at 13, to the elastic strip and the length of the strip is such as to contract into a series of folds 14. In other words, the action of the elastic strip gathers the neck hand longitudinally.

The method under which the elastic strip functions to compensate for shrinkage will be clear when considering the following.

In adapting this collar to appl to a size 15 shirt, it may be assumed, for sa e of illustration that in this particular character of material, used in making the shirt, there will be an approximate three quarters of an inch shrinkage of the collar during the life of the shirt. Naturally then, the collar would be made to size 15% with the elastic automatically gathering or drawing it to a size 15, and when the shrinkage of three quarters of an inch has taken place when washing, the collar would remain a size 15 thereafter.

An additional feature of the invention is predicated upon the fact that the elastic strip 1s made of water-proof material, and being interposed between the two plies of materials forming the neck band, it naturally minimizes melting of the neck band from perspiration in warm weather. In fact, it is thought that under ordinary conditions, the elastic strip will also prevent passage of the moisture from perspiration, through the two fabric plies of the neck band. In other words, only the inner ply of the fabric material will become wet.

A feature to be noted in connection with the invention is the idea of stitching an elastic band between the inelastic plies of fabric in a neck band construction wherein the elastic is stitched while in a stretched state so that upon loosening it, it contracts the fabric material into gathers, thus making the complete length of the neck band of a predetermined size and measurement to compensate for subsequent shrinkage while at the same time, assuring a constant measurement in the neck band itself.

I have observed a normal shrinkage of approximately 4% from four times of laundermg; of a shirt collar, that is to say (for example in other sizes in proportion) a shirt collar measuring 15.6 will after four times laundered shrink to size 15. Shrinkage thereafter is of inconsiderate importance.

From this it can understood that in placing this additional .6 in the-size of a collar (or portion 8) a very slight and scantily noticeable crinkling of cloth appears from the drawing of the rubber sheeting contained between the sides or walls of portion 8- in that no appreciable or noticeable athers appear on the collar beyond the seam gline 13) nor on the portion 6.

I have learned that there is suflicient flexibility in shirting materials that the portion 6 does not change noticeably in appearance before or after laundering. The. amount of shrinkage contained in a shirt collar is very small and practically unnoticed when allowance is made through distribution of the entire neck band or from button to buttonhole, but when shrinkage is not accounted for this .6 of an inch disappears through laundering it becomes prominent because it shows at that point above the knot of the necktie.

It is not necessary that the rubber sheeting extend through entire portion of 6 and consequently should not wrinkle but lie smooth and flat as in a regular collar with only the inside collar band slightly gathered.

Moreover, the elastic strip has a tendenc to reinforce the neck band in a vertical direction to prevent crumpling.

It is thought that by considering the description in connection with the drawings, a clear understanding of the invention will be had. Therefore, a more lengthy'description is regarded unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newis In acollar attached shirt fashioned primarily for masculine wear and constructed from shirting material of a texture subject to rogressive shrinkage from initial launderings including a conventional body portion, a turn-down collar, and a connecting neck hand between the body portion and the collar, said neck band being of the usual transversely split type and having its ends constructed for separable connection, said neck band comprising inner and outer plies of shrinkable material and a companion intervening strip of elastic, said elastic being of sufficient proportions to aid in reinforcing the collar to prevent unsightly drooping, the elastic belng of a length slightly less than the complete neck band and stitched at longitudinally spaced oints to said plies, whereby to gather the neo band longitudinally to cause it to assume a given size measurement in order to compensate for subsequent shrinkage of the fabric embodied in said neck band.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FLORIAN LEVY. 

